This briefing applies to Afghanistan the strategic lessons learned from international peace implementation efforts in nearly twenty war-torn countries around the globe over the past two decades. Its purpose is to fill an analytical void and stimulate debate about:

• security requirements in Afghanistan as the country enters two years of internationally-supported political, economic, and social transition;
• the outside support needed to help it make that transition successfully; and
• the tools available to provide that support.

The immediate impetus for this analysis was a roundtable meeting on April 3, 2002, hosted by the Stimson Center’s Future of Peace Operations project, to consider security issues in Afghanistan with representatives of non-governmental organizations with representatives in or recently returned from Afghanistan. Please see Annex III for attendees and acknowledgment of those who contributed their advice and critiques to this effort.